The most common cause of bleeding gums in Newcastle is periodontitis, but it can also be due to other issues. These can be health-related, such as vitamin deficiencies, stress or hormonal changes.
However, most cases of bleeding gums are related to dental health. Possible dental causes can include:
· Some form of periodontitis or gum disease.
· Poor oral hygiene.
· Smoking.
Possible health-related reasons for bleeding gums can include:
· Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy or menopause.
· Diabetes.
· Deficiencies in vitamin C or vitamin K.
· Taking certain blood-thinning medications.
· Stress.
Getting Treatment for Bleeding Gums
If you have noticed your gums have started to bleed, contact us to book an appointment with our West Bowmanville Family Dental dentist. Please don’t ignore this symptom because it is a sign that something is wrong, whether dental or general health-related.
What to Expect When You Come to See Us
We can gently examine your gums and complete a periodontal evaluation to determine if you have gum disease. If we diagnose gum disease, it can be mild, moderate, or more serious and will affect the treatment we recommend.
What Is Gum Disease?
This bacterial infection is caused by a buildup of dental plaque in your mouth.
Dental plaque is a sticky biofilm that continually forms over teeth. If you brush and floss regularly, most plaque is removed, but if you are a bit lax about your oral care, dental plaque can soon harden into calculus or tartar.
Tartar is hard and cannot be removed by brushing and flossing. It is the substance removed from your teeth during a regular oral hygiene appointment. The bacteria in plaque and tartar produce acids and toxins. These inflame and infect your gums, causing gum disease.
How Is Gum Disease Treated?
Various treatments are available for gum disease in Clarington, including:
· Make a dental hygiene appointment. If you have mild gum disease, gingivitis, treatment may be as straightforward as cleaning your teeth professionally to remove plaque and tartar buildup.
· Improved oral care at home. Our hygiene team can work with you to ensure you use the right brushing and flossing techniques to remove maximum plaque and food debris from your teeth and gums. A simple, effective oral care routine should take around 10 minutes each day.
· Scaling and root planing. If you have more serious signs of gum disease, we may recommend a deep dental cleaning called scaling and root planing. Gum disease can cause receding gums. This treatment cleans your teeth and any exposed tooth roots, removing plaque and tartar buildup and improving gum health.
All of the above nonsurgical treatments, but if you have advanced periodontitis, you may require periodontal surgery. Due to gum recession, advanced periodontitis causes deep periodontal pockets or gaps between teeth and gums.
These periodontal pockets can harbour harmful bacteria that eventually begin destroying the bone and ligaments holding teeth in their sockets. Periodontal surgery helps remove bacterial buildup, remove damaged gum tissue, and enable gums to heal more effectively.
Treatment for advanced periodontitis in Courtice may be ongoing, as this condition can be chronic.
What If I Have Bleeding Gums but Don’t Have Gum Disease?
If, during a dental exam, we find that your gums bleed but there are no signs of gum disease, we will most likely recommend that you book an appointment with your GP.
You may need further tests to determine why your gums are bleeding and to discover if you have vitamin deficiencies or other health conditions. Your GP can arrange for suitable testing and recommend appropriate treatment.
